Dollars for Docs: Talk With Your Doctor

https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/
You can print this page and show it to your doctor.

This database was last updated in October 2019 and should only be used as a historical snapshot. Newer data is available at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payments site.

ProPublica's Dollars for Docs database lets you search for payments to U.S.-based doctors made by pharmaceutical and medical device companies between August 2013 and December 2018. The disclosure of these payments is required under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, a provision of the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

About This Information

  • The information that appears here comes directly from the federal government. Companies must attest to its accuracy, and doctors have the ability to contest information they believe is in error.
  • This site includes payments for such activities as speaking, consulting, meals, travel and royalties. It does not include payments for clinical research.
  • It is legal for companies to make payments to doctors as long as the payments are not a kickback or inducement to use their products.
  • Some doctors say collaborative relationships, particularly those involving research, are necessary to develop new treatments and cures. But many ethicists have raised questions about the payments, and studies show that they may influence doctors' prescribing decisions.
  • Only you can decide if this matters to you and if so, whether you want to talk with your doctor about it. If you plan to talk with your doctor (or if you already have), please help us by filling out this short survey: propub.li/participate-d4d

Preparing for Your Conversation

If you decide you'd like to talk to your doctor about this, please keep in mind:

  • Many health care professionals in our database have similar names, so you should start by asking your doctor if the person mentioned in this payment record is really him/her.
  • Your doctor may not know he or she is listed as receiving payments, especially if the payments are small. You can direct your doctor to this site (the URL will be printed at the top of the payment record) or directly to the government's site here: https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/physician/342238
  • Some doctors are happy to discuss this information with you. Others might not be. The best approach is to ask questions and to not be accusatory.

Questions You Might Want to Ask

  • Is this you?
  • What type of work do you do with these companies?
  • Have you prescribed me any drugs that are manufactured by companies you've taken payments from?
  • Are there non-drug alternatives that I may want to consider first?
  • Are there less expensive generic alternatives to the drugs you have prescribed?
  • What devices have you used in my care that are manufactured by companies you've taken payments from?

Dollars for Docs: Talk With Your Doctor

https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/doctors/pid/342238
If you spot an error, please let us know at [email protected].

This database was last updated in October 2019 and should only be used as a historical snapshot. Newer data is available at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Open Payments site.

LOWELL SCHMELTZ

Listed Specialty: Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
6900 ORCHARD LAKE RD, SUITE 204, W. BLOOMFIELD, MI, 48322

2018 Payments: At a Glance

350

payments

$174,042

payment total

24

companies paid this doctor

Types of Payments

Category Payments Payment Value
Promotional Speaking/Other
 71 $134K
Consulting
 7 $20,804
Travel and Lodging
 75 $12,066
Food and Beverage
 196 $6,817
Honoraria
 1 $525

Drugs & Devices in 2018

Totals listed below account for all payments from that mention this product. Beginning in 2016, the government began classifying products as drugs, devices, biologics or medical supplies. Below, you will see drugs (drugs and biologics) and devices (devices and medical supplies). If a payment record mentions more than one product, the entire value will be included in each of those products. When no products are listed, they are not included in the list below.

Product Name Product Type Payments†
TRULICITY

drug

 $46,743
TRESIBA

drug

 $23,039
HUMULIN

drug

 $21,461
OZEMPIC

drug

 $21,385
JARDIANCE

drug

 $20,734
VICTOZA

drug

 $19,942
STEGLATRO

drug

 $7,532
SOTAGLIFLOZIN

drug

 $6,573
Payments with no listed product

N/A

 $4,823
DEXCOM CGM

device

 $525
FARXIGA

drug

 $245
INVOKANA

drug

 $229
MINIMED 670G SYSTEM

device

 $140
REPATHA

drug

 $125
JANUVIA

drug

 $122
TOUJEO

drug

 $116
PROLIA

drug

 $91
TYMLOS

drug

 $89
SAXENDA

drug

 $86
XARELTO

drug

 $48
† May not add up to dollar total at top of page, since a payment record may not be associated with any product or can be associated with several products.

For ease of printing, only the 20 drugs and devices with the highest payments are displayed. For a complete list, please visit: https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/doctors/pid/342238

Payment Details

When How Much Related To What For From Third Party Payee
Oct 25, 2018 $5,266 SOTAGLIFLOZIN Consulting SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
Jul 21, 2018 $4,638 VICTOZA Consulting NOVO NORDISK INC
Mar 5, 2018 $4,000 TRULICITY Consulting LILLY USA, LLC ENDOCRINE HOSPITAL CONSULTANT, PC,
Mar 5, 2018 $3,600 HUMULIN Consulting LILLY USA, LLC ENDOCRINE HOSPITAL CONSULTANT, PC,
Dec 6, 2018 $3,588 OZEMPIC Promotional Speaking/Other NOVO NORDISK INC
Sep 27, 2018 $3,588 OZEMPIC Promotional Speaking/Other NOVO NORDISK INC
Nov 1, 2018 $3,413 VICTOZA Promotional Speaking/Other NOVO NORDISK INC
Apr 17, 2018 $3,063 VICTOZA Promotional Speaking/Other NOVO NORDISK INC
Oct 4, 2018 $3,063 TRESIBA Promotional Speaking/Other NOVO NORDISK INC
Dec 12, 2018 $2,800 JARDIANCE Promotional Speaking/Other BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. Endocrine Hospital Consultants, PC
Nov 8, 2018 $2,800 JARDIANCE Promotional Speaking/Other BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. Endocrine Hospital Consultants, PC
Dec 13, 2018 $2,713 OZEMPIC Promotional Speaking/Other NOVO NORDISK INC
Jul 31, 2018 $2,713 VICTOZA Promotional Speaking/Other NOVO NORDISK INC
Oct 17, 2018 $2,713 OZEMPIC Promotional Speaking/Other NOVO NORDISK INC
May 4, 2018 $2,713 TRESIBA Promotional Speaking/Other NOVO NORDISK INC ENDOCRINE HOSPITAL CONSULTANTS, P.C.
Oct 25, 2018 $2,713 TRESIBA Promotional Speaking/Other NOVO NORDISK INC ENDOCRINE HOSPITAL CONSULTANTS, P.C.
Mar 15, 2018 $2,400 HUMULIN Consulting LILLY USA, LLC ENDOCRINE HOSPITAL CONSULTANT, PC,
Nov 15, 2018 $2,310 STEGLATRO Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION
Nov 12, 2018 $2,310 STEGLATRO Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION
Nov 15, 2018 $2,310 STEGLATRO Promotional Speaking/Other MERCK SHARP & DOHME CORPORATION

For ease of printing, 20 payments are displayed, the largest appearing on top. For a full list of payments, please visit: https://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/doctors/pid/342238

Note: We have made some effort to normalize the data and eliminate duplicates, but the data is primarily as it has been reported by the companies to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. To purchase the normalized data, please visit the ProPublica Data Store. If you spot an error, please let us know at [email protected].

This site includes data published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on June 28, 2019.